Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-05-31

process.
Mr.. Frederick Webster. the taxidermist,
has spent many months of labor Oh the work
of mounting "Old Sorrel, as Jackson's favor
tie steed was called during his last years.
Although the horse is reproduced as true to
life as it is possible to make him, yet only the
hide and the hoofs are there
Just one year ago Mr.. Webster was sum-
moned to Richmond, Va, to perform the last
sad rites, which in his art are the first, on the
horse. ''Old Sorrel" breathed his last sur
rounded by the veterans Of the home, who
had found peculiar pleasure in kindly caring
for him in his last days. 1t was not unnat-
ural that those who had so tenderly nursed
him for the memories that clustered about
him should have turned aside to brush away
the tears when the little horse died.
His epitaph is simple but between the lines
speaks volumes.
OLD SORREL
OF obscure birth.
He achieved fame.
The faithful servant
OF noble master.
He died March H. 1886.
Age, 36 years.
The tough little horse would endure any
amount of hard riding without signs of fag-
ging; if, however, his rider dsmounted, he
would refresh himself by promptly lying
down without waiting to have the trappings
removed. Although the saddle suffered from
the contact with the earth his owner would
not allow him to be disturbed. The horse
was very fond of apples, and the general
always remembered him when that deli
cacy could be had. "Little Sorrel" soon
became a thoroughly trained steed. If his
rider was deep in the mysteries of some plans
he would suit his gait to the humor; he often
heard the soft accents of a muttered prayer
and bore himself with show of solemnity
until some dashing courier on a spirited horse
or the "song Of shell' aroused him to bear
himself like the war horse that he was. The
horse loved the roar Of battle and the rush of
charge, and chafed under a close rein
and logged retreat. Jackson did not
know music, and once showed his dulness for
it by asking a young lady if she had ever
heard a song called "Dixie," and when she
had finished singing it he seemed much pleased,
but did not recognize the air played every
day by the bands in the army. But there was
one kind of music which he always recog-
nized-it was the 'yell' with which his troops
ALWAYS greeted him when he appeared before
them. He always acknowledged the compli-
ment by taking off his gray cap, and Little
Sorrel," catching the inspiration of the mo-
ment, would break into gallop and continue
it until the sound had ceased The inmates
Of the SOLDIERS Home" say that up to the
last he retained his fondness for the sound of
a gun; that when the boys would fire rapidly
in the neighborhood, killing robbins, the
horse would trot off in the direction and look
over the fence with great interest; turning
with the change of direction he would trot
off in search Of the sound. 1t is rather re-
markable that the horse was never wounded,
although he bore Jackson through his cam
paigns Of Romney, Mcdowell, Port Republic,
Winchester, Cross Keys, Cold Harbor, Second
Manassas, Fredericksburg, and the fatal field
of Characteristic. During the MARYLAND
campaign he rode handsome gray, pre-
sented to him by an admiring Marylander
and came near losing his life by the horse
falling on him. He had also a very hand
some sorrel presented to him by the people of
Augusta, Ga.
1t was at Charlottesville, after a vigorous
stroke, when jackson by prompt move
ment had cut Hooker's line in two, capturing
many prisoners and guns, that Little SorreI"
was to lose his most devoted friend 1t an
pears that jackson rode out with three O,
four members of his staff to reconnoitar;
when they returned it was dark. The troops
that saw him pass out down the road had been
relieved by others, who were instructed To
fire upon the approach of ANYTHING indicatn,o
the enemy; these were startled Inv tla nr
proach of horses hoofs in rapid csnter and
delivered one or two volleys The result Of
this assault was the unhorsing of Jackson
,Io - .,s.. 81 e i,sh' nsiu announcer III
the left arm. These wounds wera NOT naoo nj
Sarily fatal, but soon after he took to his bed
pneumonia developed with a fatal -, nas nIu
Little SorreIn was sta,nedoa 49,, -, iesu'''
fusion that followed the terrihle acn;dant ,On,
at its height: it was faareJ ~ t%a u was
horse had escaped into the snorrs liz I'M e
next day some of Stuarts men fonnS Inv ne
and returned him to headonorte,s aftar D ,lln
death of Jackson the favorite of the I cam rnp
was sent to Mrs Jackson ~ ho,. , 'io camp
|nls " niis' JACKSON at her home near
70 an 49,, A. ~ Aiew years ago IN response
" an uisui' requesb' she sent him to the Vir-
sihia Military institute, where her husband